Question: “I am a receptionist at a large, very busy long-term care facility. I was disciplined for a mistake I made. I owned up to the mistake and that is not my issue. My issue is that my supervisor did the write-up, at my desk, while the phones were ringing, residents were asking questions and other staff were waiting for their paychecks. The HR director also came out and stood next to my desk while this was going on, I suppose in an attempt to make it seem like this was done properly, but it most certainly was not. I know nothing can be done after the fact, but I needed to vent. Can you offer me some professional feedback and advice?” — Gwen

Question: “I am a receptionist at a large, very busy long-term care facility. I was disciplined for a mistake I made. I owned up to the mistake and that is not my issue. My issue is that my supervisor did the write-up, at my desk, while the phones were ringing, residents were asking questions and other staff were waiting for their paychecks. The HR director also came out and stood next to my desk while this was going on, I suppose in an attempt to make it seem like this was done properly, but it most certainly was not. I know nothing can be done after the fact, but I needed to vent. Can you offer me some professional feedback and advice?” — Gwen

Question: “I have been in my executive assistant position for six months. I have seven years' experience as an admin and am extremely organized. One of my priorities is to get my boss’s office organized. She does not have a system; there are papers all over the desk, in boxes and in drawers. She is very hands-on and wants access to her files, so they must stay in her office. How do I start the process of weeding through and finding homes for everything? She is always multitasking and there is never enough uninterrupted time to sit down with her to get organized. Because I am fairly new, I don’t yet have a full understanding of which files can be stored or purged, so she has to assist me in this process. Any suggestions?” —Anonymous

Question: “I have been in my executive assistant position for six months. I have seven years' experience as an admin and am extremely organized. One of my priorities is to get my boss’s office organized. She does not have a system; there are papers all over the desk, in boxes and in drawers. She is very hands-on and wants access to her files, so they must stay in her office. How do I start the process of weeding through and finding homes for everything? She is always multitasking and there is never enough uninterrupted time to sit down with her to get organized. Because I am fairly new, I don’t yet have a full understanding of which files can be stored or purged, so she has to assist me in this process. Any suggestions?” —Anonymous

Question: "Is it ever appropriate to let a co-worker know why people don't like her? I just finished working on a big project with a peer and found it so stressful that I simply cannot work on that same project next year. She disrupts meetings with too many questions, often asked in a demeaning way. She doesn't listen, talks too much and rarely allows anyone else to get an idea heard … if we do, she still finds a way to say we'll do it her way. She's very intelligent and is able to help out in many ways, but she rubs people the wrong way. This project raises money. It was not a plus having her involved because everyone shuts down as soon as she appears. I ended up frustrated and even unwilling to participate by the project's end. HELP!" —Frustrated

Question: "Is it ever appropriate to let a co-worker know why people don't like her? I just finished working on a big project with a peer and found it so stressful that I simply cannot work on that same project next year. She disrupts meetings with too many questions, often asked in a demeaning way. She doesn't listen, talks too much and rarely allows anyone else to get an idea heard … if we do, she still finds a way to say we'll do it her way. She's very intelligent and is able to help out in many ways, but she rubs people the wrong way. This project raises money. It was not a plus having her involved because everyone shuts down as soon as she appears. I ended up frustrated and even unwilling to participate by the project's end. HELP!" —Frustrated

Question: "I’m the president of a growing company and I need help with personal stuff. I don't have time to wait on the phone for two hours with the water company. However, I don't mind paying my assistant to do the same. She is getting paid for her time to help me out. I think assistants who won't help out with the personal stuff probably already have attitudes that bosses don't like. I never make my people make me coffee or clean my office. But I do need help with bills and things like that. What is the problem?" - Billy

Question: "I’m the president of a growing company and I need help with personal stuff. I don't have time to wait on the phone for two hours with the water company. However, I don't mind paying my assistant to do the same. She is getting paid for her time to help me out. I think assistants who won't help out with the personal stuff probably already have attitudes that bosses don't like. I never make my people make me coffee or clean my office. But I do need help with bills and things like that. What is the problem?" - Billy